Field hockey clinches top seed for Landmark tourney with 2-1 win over Drew

(Posted October 17, 2009)

MADISON, N.J. -- Juniata College wrapped up the number one seed for the upcoming Landmark Conference Field Hockey Tournament with a 2-1 win over Drew University, Saturday afternoon in Madison, N.J.

17th-ranked Juniata (12-4, 5-0 Landmark) remained undefeated in the league with just one conference game remaining, assuring the Eagles of home field advantage throughout the tournament which opens on November 4.

The Eagles got past Drew (10-5, 2-2 Landmark) thanks to Kim Amrod's (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) unassisted goal with 28:41 remaining in the second half. Amrod took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Rangers to put a shot past Drew goalie Lauren Fasano, breaking a 1-1 tie.

After Amrod's go-ahead goal, Juniata's defensive unit allowed just five shots by Drew Ã???Ã??Ã?Â¢?" just one of which tested Eagle goalie Denalyn Spratt (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights). Spratt finished the game with three saves over her 70 minutes in the Juniata cage.

Shauna Deschenes (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) opened the scoring and gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead barely 11 minutes into the contest, when she fired home a rebound past Fasano.

Juniata kept the 1-0 lead through to the intermission, only to watch Drew tie the game just under four minutes into the second stanza. Drew's Sarah Charles scored an unassisted tally with 41:17 showing on the second half clock, with a first touch shot on a rebound off Spratt.

Juniata outshot Drew 18-12, and had a 18-10 advantage in penalty corners. Fasano logged 10 saves in the Drew cage, with defender Hannah Rau recording a pair of defensive saves.

Juniata will travel to Dover, Del., on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to face Wesley College in a non-conference tilt, before closing out league play next Saturday, Oct. 24, at the University of Scranton.